Glass feeder



July 28, 1936. F. o. wADswoRTH GLASS FEEDER Filed July ll, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l a I7 w `L b T 4 m w m m v W. my n 7. 7., n 9 W 0 0 W 1 1 H W 1 w, o :Inl I 7. M H O I H m 7. 5 W U 2J l 5 .la 1 A\l Sul. w E LN l g a.. l0 0 n 3 ,s .aw 7 r11 ,mw 7. 4 7 I3 9N @I 8 sif ...oo 9 o0 o0. 6 0 7. Pw IPN 4 a w l, x T v :IJ I fql 6 o. l .1 mm.. H Pw. 7 l l TL 5 9 -L 9 4. M w 5` a I g M41 f j w un.. o m

Patented `luly 28, 1936 UNiTl-:D sinreggk GLASS FEEDER Frank L. O. Wadsworth, Pittsburgh, Pa., as-

signor to Ball Brothers Company, Muncie, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application July 11, 1933, Serial No. 679,888 20 Claims. (Cl. 49-55) My invention relates to glass feeders of the forced-ow-pneumatic impulse type, in which a sub-atmospheric or vacuum pressure is used to draw or suck successive quantities of the molten material from a pool or parent body into a segregation chamber or bell, and a superatmospheric pressure is applied to the said segregated charg'es to accelerate the discharge or extrusion of the glass from a delivery or now orifice that is in constantly open communication with the said chamber.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a. method and a means, whereby the application of the vacuum or sub-atmospheric pressure to the glass automatically, and in itself, decreases the resistance to the flow of the molten material from the parent pool to the interior of the segregation chamber, and thus permits a free and unrestricted accumulationof the glass therein; and whereby the application of the increased super-atmospheric pressure also automatically increases the resistance of return flow, from the chamber to the pool, and thus enables the higher pressure to act most rapidly and eectively in augmenting the discharge of the segregated material from the delivery or feed orifice.

Another important object of my invention is to provide an improved mode of procedure in applying the vacuum or suction force to the glass in the delivery bell, by which it is possible to utilize a very low sub-atmospheric pressure, or high vaccum at the initiation of the flow of the glass to the segregation chamber, and thus accelerate the accumulation of the charge therein; and then automatically and progressively decrease this force- Without the aid of any mechanically actuated valves or other instrumentalities-as the accumulation proceeds, thereby eliminating any danger or possibility of an overcharging of the said chamber and of a clogging or blocking of the air passage leading thereto. Y

Still another purpose of these improvements lis the provision of means for readily varying and controlling the maximum quantity of glass that can be drawn into the segregation chamber, at

each application of the sub-atmospheric or vacuum pressure, and thereby maintaining a substantially constant mean or average level of the glass therein during successive cycles of action.

A further purpose of this invention is to provide4 a novel form of severing mechanism for cutting the glass stream close to the delivery orifice without chilling or marking the molten material at the plane of severance.

Other auxiliary and supplemental features of my present improvements are directed to the maintenance of uniform temperature conditions in the glass as it isdrawn from the parent body and discharged from the delivery orifice; to the prevention of the escape of the heating gases from the receptacle which contains the molten material; and to the provision of means by which various parts of the apparatus may be readily adjusted, or removed and replaced with a minimum loss of time etc. These andother additional objects of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in this art,by the following description of certain exemplary embodiments thereof, whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 'and in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal central section through the forehearth of a glass furnaceon the plane I-I of Fig. 2--that is provided-with one form of my improved feeder;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of this structure;

Fig. 3 is a partial cross `section on the plane III- III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is another partial section on the plane IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical cross section of one of the valve members which is shown in elevation in this same figure; l

Fig. 6 is a composite longitudinal section and elevation of a part of a second illustrative exemplication of the present invention;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged cross section, and partial front elevation, on the plane VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Figs. 8 and 49 are partial cross sections on the' respectiveV planes VIII-V111 and IX-IX of Fig. 7:

Fig. 10 is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of the principle of automatically varying vacuum control which constitutes one feature of the operation of these several forms of improved feeder construction;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section, on a some- What enlarged scale, of one form of my improved shear mechanism, a part of which is shown in elevation in Fig. 6;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section of this mechanism on the plane XII- XII of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a cross section on the plane XIII-XIII of this same gure;

Fig. 14 is a partial plan view of another embodiment of this feature of my invention;

Fig. 15 is a'partial end view of this second form of improved shear mechanism (on the plane XV--XV of Fig. 14) and Fig. 16 is an enlarged vertical section on the plane XVI-XVI of Figs. 14 and l15.

The structure which is showniin Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, comprises a forehearth or feed boot I'Which is connected to the lining chamber of a glass tank furnace; and which is provided near its front end with a 'submerged delivery orifice F, and with an inverted cup or bell B that is positioned above-and preferably in vertical alignment with-this orifice. The -lower end of the bell B is enlarged to form an annular. beveled head 3, which is positioned within and just below a cooperating inwardly tapered sleeve member 4 that is removably supported on the oor of the forehearth frame by the anged collar 5. 'I'he lower endof this sleeve 4 is closed by the detachable iiowbushing 6, which contains the delivery orifice F, and which is also supported in the collar 5 by the iianged cap l. 'I'he bell member B is surrounded-by a guard sleeve 8 whose lower end is immersed in the parent body of glass in the forehearth, and whose upper end projects through, and is closely engaged by, an opening in the roof of the forehearth chamber. 'I'he upper flanged head of this sleeve is clamped against a ilat plate Il), by means of the anged collar and the bolts |2-|2 etc.; and the -'assembly 8|0|||2 etc.is adjustably supported, as'a whole, by the cap screws |4|4 which are threaded through radial extensions of the plate I0, and are engaged by inwardly projecting lugs on the side 'posts I5, I5 of the forehearth frame.v The outer periphery of the clamping collar is also closely engaged by the upper enlarged por- `tion of the forehearth roof opening, and the annular space below the lower end of this collar and the adjacent face of the sleeve 8, may, if desired, be loosely filled with asbestos wool, so as to more completely seal the sliding joint between the said sleeve and the forehearth cap, and thus substantially eliminate any outow of heated gases through this joint.

The upper end -of the bell B is reduced in diameter to t into a semi-cylindrical extension'll, of a shaft |8;-and is clamped against this extension by the cap I3, which is provided with an internal rib 20' that engages with a transverse slot in the adjacent side of the bell member B. This member is also centrally cored to receive a tubular bolt 2|, which `is preferably made of nichrome or some similar vhigh resistivity alloy, and which is clamped in position in the bell bythe nut and washer elements 22. The upper end of the tube 2| is also engaged by a flanged and threaded collar 24, which is adapted to enter a central recess'in the lower en d of the shaft I3, and which can be forced tightly against the end surface of the said shaft, by turning it on the tubular bolt 2|, so as to form a fluid tight Joint therewith. Y

The shaft member I8 is rotatably mounted in a block 25 which is provided with radially extending trunnions 25-26, that are pivotally.v en- Based with the inner ends of a pair of radius guide arms 21-2'l; and its upper end is bored out to form a chamber 2B, which is connected to the segregation chamber D, in the interior of the bell B, by a two way valve controlled passage 30-3l, that extends through theshaft Il and communicates, at its lower end, with the central duct of the tubular ooit 2|. end of the chamber 2l vis closed by aiianged head 3| which is provided withy a" central upwardly extended snm rement :what is rotatably mounted, in coaxial relationship with the shaft element Il,ina1langedbearlngblock33;andin ordertoaaaistinthet'and macintrunnions tenance of an accurate ignment of the two shaft elements I8 and 32 e lower and upper bearing blocks 25 and 33 are detachably conrifiected by a U-shaped bracket 34 (see Fig. 2).

The upper shaft bearing member 33 is, like the lower block 25, provided with radially extending 36-36, which are pivotaily engaged by the inner ends of a second pair of radius guide arms 31-31. The two pair of guide arms 21-21 and 31-31, are respectively supported, at their outer ends, on cross bolts 38 and 39 that are carried by the side post I5; and together form a parallel link, system which performs the joint. functionsof preventing rotation ,of the bearing block members (25 and 33), and of permitting the entire interconnected assembly of bell, .shaft and bearing elements (B-I8425-32--33--30` to move freely up and downin a path substantially coincident with the axis of shaft rotation. In order to fcilitate this free' up and down movement the lower guide arms 2l- 2'| are provided' with extensions 21, which carry an adjustable counterweight 40; and the bracket 34 is also curately balanced, so that a very small force will 30 be suilicient to move them up or down.

'Ihe flanged head 3|which forms the upper closure for the shaft chamber 2li-is provided with a downwardly extending sylphon bellows 44, which is of slightly less diameter than the 35 interior of the said chamber, and which is-at tached, at its lower end, to a piston 45; and this piston element is, in turn, secured to a hollow piston rod or stem 46 that extends upwardly,

. through the upper shaft member 32.- 'Ihe stem 40 45 is threaded at its upper end to engage a rotatable nut 41, which is confinedagainst axial movement-in a transversely slotted portion of the upper bearing block 33; so that, by turning this nut, the piston element 45 may be moved up and down, in the chamber 28, to vary the volume of thel latter. The nut 41 may be' conveniently rotated by means of the ratchet lever 48, which is pivotally mounted on the piston stem 45, and which is provided with a spring retracted .r

dog 51|, that may be manually engaged, when desired, with the toothed periphery of the nut.

'I'he piston rod 4B is centrally bored to receive an axially movable valve rod 5|, which is con- -nected. at its upper end. to one arm of a bell crank 5.

lever 52, that is pivotally mounted at 53, on an vextension oi the upper bearing block 33; and which is attached, at 'its lower extremity, to a double ended` "plug valve 55 that is adapted,

when raised, to close the upper end of the pas` 60 sage 30 and thus shut oil' communication 4between the chambers 28 and D. The head-of this valve is provided with a wedge shaped portion whichengages with a cross pin in the slotted end of a'second valve stem that is attached to G5 the disc valve 55; 4and Awhen the valve member 55 is lifted (to close the passage 30) the valve 56 will-be concurrently moved away from its seat (against the tension of the spring which-tends to hold it-seated) land the branch passageway 70 l1 from the chamber 28 will be opened.- This branch passageway leads-as shown-to an annular groove 58, in the upper face of the head 3|, which is covered by the'lower anged end of thebearlngblocklkondthlsblockiainturnq provided with a passageway 59 that is in registry, at its inner end, with the groove 58, and is connected, at its outer end, with a transverse opening 6I) in the end of the trunnion 36.

The lower tapered end of the valve 55 is engaged-when in its lower position-with a coned seat in the shaft member I8; and, when so seated, it serves to cut oir communication between the lower ends of the passageway 39 and the radial ducts (one of which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. l) which lead outwardly from the grooved seat for the valve 55 to an annular or circumferential groove 62 on the periphery of the said shaft. The groove 62 is in registry with a radial passageway 65 which is formed in the connected bearing block and trunnion elements 25-26, and which communicates with the transverse opening 66 in the outer end of the said trunnion member; and when the valve 55 is liftedto close the upper end of the passageway 30--free communication isI established between the lower end of the passage 30 and the trunnion duct 66.

The passageway 60 in the trunnion 36 is ilexlibly connected, by the spirally wound armored hose pipe 68, to a suitable source of high vacuum,

(e. g. to a high speed rotary vacuum pump), which is of suilicient capacity to quickly reduce the pressure in .the chamber 28 to onethirtieth or one-iiftieth of an atmosphere, and to compensate for any small leaks in the vacuum pipe connections, when the valve 55 is lifted to its upper seat and the valve 56 is opened. The passageway 66, in the trunnion 26, is also exibly connected (by the armored hose 69 or in any other suitable manner) to a valve box 10, which is mounted on the side of the post I5, in front of the adjacent radius guide arm 21, and which contains a, reciprocablepiston valve 1I (see Figs. 4 and 5) vthat controls the passage of uid from the compressed air conduit 12 to the flexible pipe connection 69.

The valves 55 and 1I are respectively actuated, in the desired time relationship (see infra), by a pair of cams 15 -and 16, which are secured on the cross shaft 39 that also serves as the outer pintle mounting for the radius guide arms 31-31. As already stated this cross shaft is supported in the side post I5-that is slotted or forked in the upper portion to receive the outer ends of the guide arms (31-31)-and is revolved at a constant speed by means of a worm wheel 14, which is mounted between the said arms, and is engaged by a worm 11 on a-vertical shaft 18, that is also rotatably supported on the side post I5, and is actuated by any suitable motor` connection. The cam 15 is positioned between the arms 31-31, at o-ne side of the worm wheel 14, and is engaged by a cam roller 88, which is carried by..

a reciprocable rod 8|, that is coupled, by a pin and slot connection, to the longer arms of the bell crank lever 52, and which is held against the cam 15 by-a spring 82, that is interposed between the inner slide bearing for the rod 8| and an adjustable collar 83 secured thereon. The cam 16 is mounted on the shaft 39, at apoint outside of the post I5, and is engaged by a cam roller 83a, which is carried bythe vertically reciprocable valve rod 84, and is held in engagement with the said cam by the .spring 85.

The operation of the parts thus far described is as follows: When the valve mechanism .is in the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the vacuum pump connection to the chamber 28 is closed (by the seating of the valve 56); the connection between lthis-chamber and the space above the glass in the air bell segregation chamber D is open; and the connections leading from this space to the compressed air conduit 12 are doubly closed, first by the valve 55, and second by the valve 1I. Under these conditions the vacuum earlier established in the chamber 28 is acting to hold the bell assembly in its lowermost position-which is determined by the engagement of the adjustable stop screw 81 on the arms 28a, with an adjacent portion of the fixed side post member I5-and 'to thus open the passageway G, between the parent body of glass (C) and the segregation chamber (D); and is alsoconcurrently acting to suck or draw the glass through this wide open passageway (G) into the interior of the lowered bell; this last action being limited and automatically controlled (as will be presently explained) by the `relative volumes of the connected, but externally sealed. chambers 28 and Da When a suflicient quantity of glass has thus been` segregated or accumulated in the bell. chamberas indicated by the raised level of glass therein-the cam 15 acts to rock the lever 52 and lift th'e valve stem 5I thereby closing the upper port in the passageway 30 and opening the lower port between the said passageway and the pipe connections 6566--69. The cam 16 then comes into action to depress the valve rod 84 and the piston valve 1I thereby rst opening a connection to an atmospheric vent port 88, and then establishing communication between the pipe 69 and the compressed air conduit 12. The resultant admission of compressed fluid to the space D acts to raise the bell assembly until its upward movement is arrested by the engagement of the adjustable stop screw with the arm 34a, and thus throttle the supply passage- Way G; and concurrently acts to accelerate the discharge of glass from the delivery orifice F, and thus swell or stui the outfiowing stream to-the desired diameter of a mold charge. When the proper quantity of material has thus been extruded the cam 16 permits the spring85 to lift the valve 1I thus closing the port opening between the conduit 12 and the pipe connection 69, and then momentarily opening and immediately thereafter closing the atmospheric vent port 88, thus reducing the pressure in the chamber D to that of the outside air. The cam 15 then permits the spring 82 to rock the lever 52 in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby opening the upper port in the passageway 30, and simultaneously permitting the closure of the poppet valve 56. During the interim of pressure application the chamber 28 has been evacuated by the, action of the vacuum pump. and the opening of communication between it and the chamber D, will immediatelycreate apartial vacuum therein, which will act. as before, in depressing-or more properly stated, in drawing downthe bell-shaft assembly and reopening the Supply passage G; and will concurrently act indrawing a fresh charge of glass into the interior of the depressed bell.

The control of the degree of the initial vacuum in the segregation chamber, and the automatic limitation on its action, during this phase of the operation can bemost readilyv understood by reference to the diagrammatic illustration of Fig. 10. Let V1 and P1 indicate respectively the volume and the pressure of the air in the bell or segregation chamber (D) at the instant when the valve (a) between it and the control chamber (28) is opened; and let Vg and P2 correspondingly represent the volume and the pressure of As the glass rises in the bell chamber (B) the volume of the air space therein will be progressively reduced, and the pressure in the connected chamber will be correspondingly increased. When the glass has risen to a height h, (above thes'glass in the pool) and the residual volume ofthe air in chamber D is reduced to V3, the increased pressure P" (still assuming no substantial change in temperature) will be Now let us assume that at the has been established a condition of hydrodynamic equilibrium. Then the pressure P" must be equal to Ifo-Ah If V3 equals 0.1 V1 (which represents a maximum change'of level of the glass corresponding approximately to that shown in Figs. 1 and 10);

and if the pressure in the segregation chamber (D) is equalized with that of the outside air just before the valve a is opened, (as in the above described operation ofA the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive), then `the above relationship becomes P1 is preferably very small; 'and if itis one- .iftieth of an atmosphere (see supra) we have the relation V1(13.23+o.o111) 14.4- 0.111

From which we can readily determine the relation between volume V2 of the control chamber 28, (or the ratio between its volum and the vol- `ume V1vof the segregation chamber at the end of the pressure action and the beginning of the vacuum action), and the maximum'rrise of glass in the bell chamber (D).

height h` there A few examples of the eiect of varying the ratio are illuminating. If 6 is unity then h is a little more than ten and one-half inches which is more than is usually required or desirable. If, on the other hand, h is 21A inches-'as illustrated in Fig. l-then V1 is approximately 1.07; or the volume of thecon- 15 trol chamber 28 should be approximately 61/2% less than that of the segregation chamber at the v beginning of the suction action.

It will be readily understood that the principle of vacuum control just described does not depend upon the opening ofthe segregation chamber to the-outside air before it is put into communication with the control chamber 28. If the pressure P1 is the same as that at the end of the pneumatic extrusion action-and if for illustration we assume this to be approximately two lbs. gauge .pressure-then we have from (1) supra (V3 beand if h, as before, is 21,41",

is approximately 0.93; or the volume of the control chamber (28) should in this case be about '7l/2% greater than that of the bell chamber (D) at the time it is put into communication there- 40 with. Under any condition of operation that may be assumed-i. e. for any values of V1 P1 P2 and V3- a-nd regardless of the level to which the glass is depressed during the expulsion stage of the pressure-vacuum cycle, it is possible to control the initial vacuum to which the glass is exposed, and the maximum amount of glass which can be drawn into the bell during the application of the vacuum (i. e. during the time the bell is connected to the vacuum control chamber 28), by varying the volume V2 of the control chamber 28; and this isreadily accomplished, during the operation of the feeder, by raising or lowering the packless piston head by means of the nut and 55 screw adjustment above described; while the amount of glass discharged during the pressure application is readily controlled by a regulating valve, such as that shown at 9|, in the pressure supply conduit 12. The rate of expulsion of the molten material-under the combined effect of gravity and of any predetermined or preadjusted pneumatic pressure-is also readily varied by adjusting the stop screw 80, which will determine the degree to which the passage G is throttled or restricted, and therefore the amount of return ilow from the segregation chamber to the parent body of glass, during the pressure application stage.

The utilization ofthe above described vacuum chamber control principle has a further great advantage in permitting initial application of a much higher degree of vacuum than is permissible in the operation ofthe usual' type of "air feeder"- e. g. such as is shown in the Hitchcock or Mc- Cauley Patent Nos. 865,068 or 1,322,318-because the automatic and progressive decrease in the vacuum as the glass rises in the bell, eliminates any possibility of sucking the rising material into the air pipe and thus clogging the system. The

degree of initial vacuum obtainable under any given adjustment of the volume ratio V2 is readily computed from Equation (1) supra. For the case -V-z-LO? (where Pi=Po=l4J7 and Pz=.02 P0) P'-'7.'14 which represents a vacuum of approximately 7 lbs. or nearly one-half an atmosphere. If

(second case) P=8.2 lbs.,'which corresponds to a vacuum of about 6.5 lbs. or 0.44 of an atmosphere. The somewhat higher initial vacuum which is obtainable when the segregation chamber is opened to the atmosphere before it is put into communication with the vacuum control chamber, is the main advantage that results from the first described mode of procedure. v

The combination of a high initial vacuum and of the automatic accompanying opening of the supply passage G, results in a very much more rapid recharging, or relling of the bell chamber, than can be secured under the usual and necessary limitations that are imposed in the operation of the Hitchcock-McCauley type of feederwhere the opening from the bell chamber to the outside body of glass is constant in area and must be so restricted as to prohibit too large a backiiow therethrough when pressure is applied to the glass in the belland this substantial increase in the speed of segregating each successively accumulated and discharged mass of glass correspondingly increases the rate of delivery of the molten material, both because of the shorter interval of retardation, and possible retraction, of outflow during the vacuum application, and also because of the increased ratio between the interval of pressure application and the necessary interval of vacuum action. In practice the large area of the supply passage G, which is afforded by the rapid downward movement of the bell under the application of the high initial vacuum-and which is several times the area of the delivery orice F permits such a free flow to the chamber above the said orice that the gravity flow therefrom will continue while the segregation chamber is being refilled; and in consequence of this there will be little, if any, retraction `of the glass above the plane of severance, when the outflowing stream is cut (see infra).

The increase in the speed of the feeding operations-resulting from my improved mode of procedurenecessitates a correspondingly accelerated forward movement of the main body of glass in the forehearth chamber (C); and this inturn tends to maintain uniform temperature conditions in the parent body of molten material, as well asin .the continuously renewed supply 0f glass above the delivery orifice. But in order to assist in this maintenance of thermal and physical homogeneity in the outfiowing stream I have not only provided the usual auxiliary burners (one of which is indicated at 93 in Fig.

1) at the front end of the forehearth chamber;

` pinion 95 member 34, and is provided, at its upper but I have also provided means for rotating the bell (b) when it is in its lowered position (Fig. 1). In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, this rotation is eifected in the following manner: .The periphery of the chamber head 3|-which is rigidly secured to the shaft member |8-is provided with gear teeth which mesh with a shrouded that is keyed to a vertical shaft 96. This shaft is rotatably mounted in the bracket end, with a grooved sheave 91' which is connected, by the wire rope belt 98, with a small pulley 99, that is revolvably supported on the shaft 18and may be coupled thereto by a clutch member |00. This clutch is operated by a T lever |0|, which is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction (to engage the pulley with the revolving shaft), by means of a piston member in the cylinder |02; and is rocked in the opposite direction (to declutch the pulley) by the return spring |04. When the bell-shaft-assembly is moved down, by the vacuum action on the bell (b), the upwardly moving extension 21a of the guide arms 21 engages the valve stem |05; opens a valve which admits compressed air, from the conduit l2, to the rear end of the cylinder |02; and thus engages the clutch mechanism |00. The bell will then be rotated until its next upward movement disengages the parts 21a and |05 and allows the valve stem |05 to be returned by the spring |06; thereby cutting off the admission of compressed fluid to the cylinderA |02 and opening the latter to the outside air, and thus permitting the clutch to be disengaged by the spring |0.

The purpose of stopping the rotation of the bell, B, when it is in its raised position is to avoid any injury or abrasion of the adjacent inclined surfaces of the parts 4 and B-which form the throttling valve elements of the passageway G--and thereby maintain and prolong the desired uniform and preadjusted action of these parts during the intervals of vacuum application. In order to further protect these "valves surfaces the stop screw 81 should be so adjusted as to prevent actual contact between them in the raised position of the bell; and they may be further strengthened, if desired, by facing them with thin rings |08 and |09, of nichrome, or some other metal of high heat resistivity, which is preferably glazed with a coat of vitreosil (fused silica); or such a coating of hard and highly refractory material may be applied directly to the said surfaces.

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 show another illustrative or exemplary embodiment of my present improve- -ments which differs from that already described in the specific form and arrangement of the bell B, and of the segregation chamber D, and in some other details of construction which will be briefly considered; but which is characterized, in general, by the same broad features of structural organization and of functional performance, as are presented by the first Ldescribed exempliflcation of my invention.

The bell of this second illustrative construction is made in two partsan upper cylindrical member B and a lower frusto conical head B"- which are clamped together by a heavy thick' walled tubular bolt 2|a of "nichrome or of some similar alloy that is not deleteriously affected by the temperature of its surroundings. The upper end of this bolt is threaded directly into the lower extremity of a tubular shaft member |8a, which engages a flanged cap plate 22a, that covers the top of the bell member B'; further locked together by that is keyed to the shaft bolted to the cap 22a.

I'he lower head B contains the segregation chamber D-which in this case is positioned below the level of the glass in the forehearth chamber (C)-and is surrounded by an inwardly beveled annular valve? ring 4a which cooperates with the coned outer periphery 3a of the bell head (B") to define and limit the area of the supply passage G that leads from the forehearth chamber to the segregation chamber. The cooperating faces of the parts 3a and 4a may be reinforced with annular rings of highly refractory metal and (or) coatings of fused silica in .the manner already described.

The hollow shaft member |8a is rotatably mounted in two cross head members and ||2, which are tied together by the and these parts are a flanged collar 24a, |8a and is detachably ends, with conical guide rolls |6| |6| I6 etc., whose beveled edges engage the cylindrical surfaces of two posts |5a and |6a, that are bolted to. and form a part of, the supporting frame of the forehearth. The central portion of this shaft |8a carriesa cylindrical member |85 which is rigidly secured thereto,` and which is providedl central boss on the piston element 45a, and serves,

when turned. to move the said piston up or down in the chamber 28a and thereby vary the volume of the latter. The upper end of the nut 41a is keyed, or otherwise suitably secured, in the-hub of a sheave wheel ||8, which is connected, by the wire rope |20, with a small pulley |2|, that may be rotated, when desired, by the hand wheel |2 The two posts I5a|6,a are cross connected by a head, |25|25, whose ends are clampedto the said posts, and which is provided with a central bearing sleeve that carries a largesprocket wheel 91a. This wheel is connected, by the chain 98a, with a sprocket pinion 99a that is keyed to the vertical shaft 18a, which is rotatably at one end in an oiset extension |26 of thibross head |25, and, at the other, in a bracket |21 secured to a subjacent portionA of the side post |5a, and which is driven from any suitable motor, by the bevel gear and pinion elements |29-`|3|l.

The bell supporting shaft lila is provided with a' tripod driving member |3|, which is keyed to the shaft, and which has three adjustable flat ended screws Sla-81a etc., that are adapted to contact with the upper surface of the sprocket wheel 91a, when the bell shaft'assembly is moved downward by the vacuum application; and when this contact occurs the bell will be rotated by the frictional suction pressure engagement of the screws with the revolving wheel, and will continue to so rotate until it is 'again lifted by the Vcompressed air application. With an air bell B of the size indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 (about 61A!" O D),

lvand with an initial vacuum of 'I lbs. (supra),

spacer bolts Ill and H5, and which are provided, at their outer supported,

The reverse force which acts to raise the parts, when the super-atmospheric, or positive, pressure is applied depends on the magnitude of that pressure-which is varied with the working temperature of the glass and with other mold charge requirements-but is usually not more than sixty to seventy pounds. In order to obtain the full eect of this lifting force the mass of the vertically movable assembly is preferably balanced-or somewhat overbalanced-by adjustable counterpoise weights and springs 40a and Ila', which are attached to levers |33, |34, that are fulcrumed on the side post brackets |21 and |28, and are flexibly coupled by pin and slot connections, to depending posts on the cross head upward movement isdetermined, as before, by adjustable stop screws 90a, which engage with the counterweight levers |33 and |34; and these stops valve surfaces on the members B" and 4a are not permitted to come into actual physical contact when the bell is raised;-the viscosity of the molten glass being suiilcient to prevent any substantial back flow from the segregation cham'- ber (D) to the forehearth chamber (C) when the passageway G is throttled to the degree indicated in Fig. 7. 'I'he valve mechanisms which control the application of the vacuum, (negative or sub-atmospheric) and of the positive (super-atmospheric) pressures to the glass in the segregation or delivery-outlet-chamber (D-F) also differ in some respects from those irst described. The upper are preferably so set that the two coned 2Q portion of the shaft member |8a is bored out to 35 receive a double ended poppet valve assembly, which comprises a lower valve head 55a, which is adapted to seat in a coned recess at the upper end of the passageway 30a; and upper valve head 56a whichis adapted to seat in a bushing inserted at the upper end of the shaft |8a, and thereby close the opening to connections Sila-68a; and a valve rod Bia, which 1 carries the heads 55a and 56a. and which is iiexibly engaged, at its upper end, by the adjacent extremity of the bell crank lever 52a. The other arm of the lever 52a is pivotally connected to a rod 8|a, and is moved in one direction-to lift the valve rod--by a cam 15a which is secured to the shaft 18a and is engaged by a cam wheel a-at the outer end of the rod 8|a; and in the opposite direction-to hold the valve assembly in the position shown in Fig. 'Z-by a spring 82a.

The lower end of the cylinder hub |8c is bored out to form an' annular recess which is connected 5 to the passageway 30a by radial ducts that terminate in a beveled seat for a vertically movable sleeve valve element |36, and which is also connected, by a second series of radial ducts,'to an annular groove 62a on the bearing for the said hub |8c. The sleeve valve y |36 is adapted to rotate with the shaft ele-f ments |8a and |8c, 'and is coupled, at its ,lo/wer end, to the forked arm of a bell `orang/lever |31, by a groove and pivoted collar connection (Mil). 'Ihe forked arm of this llever/ is also coupled, by a pin and slot connectionto/the head of a piston'valve 1|a, which controls communication between the annular groove 62a and the said groove and anatmospheric vent port 88a.

'Ihe shorter side arm of the bell crank member the vacuum pump inner surface of the 60 (|31) is pivotally attached to a rod 84a, which 75 carries a cam roller 83a that is engaged by a cam 11a on the shaft 18a, and which is pressed outwardly by a spring 85a that is interposed be- L tween a guide boss on the lower cross head and a collar |4I on the said rod.

The operation of the various elements of the last described control mechanisms (Figs. 6, '7 and 8) is essentially the same as that of the corresponding organization shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Figs4 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the position of the parts at' the end, or just prior to the termination, of the positive pressure application. As the shaft 18a continues to revolve (in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 8) the cam wheel 83a runs off the elevated portion of the cam 11a, and the spring 85a rocks the lever |31 in a clockwise direction, thus closing the compressed air port connection with the groove 62a and the passageway 30a; then momentarily opening (if desired) the connection between this passage and the outside air; and finally sealing oiI both of these connections by the continued movement of the plunger valve lla, and by the seating of the beveled end sleeve valve |36. The valve assembly Sla, 55a, 56a is then lifted by the action of the cam 15a, thus sealing off the vacuum control chamber 28a. from the exhaust pump connection 68a, and concurrently opening communication between this chamber and the segregation chamber D; thereby depressing the bell and initiating the accumulation ofa fresh chargeof glass therein.

In the construction last described the final level of the molten material in the segregation chamber is below the level of glass in the forehearth chamber and the algebraic value of h in Equations (3), (4), (5) and (6) supra is therefore negative. If, as shown in Fig. 7, this value is approximately 2.3", the relation between V1 and V2, under the conditions previously assumed, becomes (for P1=Po) which shows that the adjusted volume VE of the i. e., the adjusted volume of the control chamber 28a should be about 4% greater than that of the segregation chamber at the initiation of the vac-A uum application.

The use of the guard tube, 8a (or 8), which surrounds the vertically reciprocable bell B, prev vents any direct escape of the gases of combustion from the fcrehearth chamber through the roof opening for the said bell; and therefore eliminates the detrimental eiect of such escaping gases on the parts of the operating mechanism which are positioned above this opening. In order to further protect these parts from undue heating (by radiation etc.) I may provide one or more thin metal shields-(such as are '7)-of highly polished stainless steel, or other suitable material, which are secured either to the upper end of the guard tube 8 (Fig. 1), or, preferably, to the metal shaft support for the bell; and, in conjunction with these shields, I may also use a series of nozzles or tuyres |43, which are positioned along the front of the forehearth,

and are adapted to deliver a sheet of low pressure cooling air from the pipe |44 to the space between the shields and the forehearth roof. The use of such shielding and cooling means is an advantage in permitting the entire superstructurewhich carries the operating mecha- -nism--to be reduced in height and thus rendered easily accessible from the operating Hoor; but it is, of course, possible to extend the side post supports, I5 or |5a and I6 or |6ato any distance above the forehearth frame, and correspondingly increase the distance between the hot sub-structure and the working mechanism, without in any way interfering with the desired operation of the latter. The only effect of such an elevation of the working parts-and particularly of the vacuum control chamber 28 or 28a-is a slight retardation of the iinal establishment of hydrostatic equilibrium, because any cooling of the air which passes from the hot bell chamber intoa cooler control chamber correspondingly reduces the mean pressure in the system, and thus permits the glass to be lifted to a somewhat higher level in the bell than it will be when th temperature remains constant.

The space in front of the guard tube 8a is preferably heated by the use of auxiliary burners 93a; and in conjunction therewith I have also provided for electrically heating the lower portion of the segregation chamber D by the use of two segmental ring sections US5- |46 of high" resistance material which are connected in parallel with two opposed low resistance terminals I41|4`| that are supplied with current froml the insulated bus bars HI8-|48. A similar arrangement of `supplemental heating elements may, if desired, be employed in conjunction with the structural arrangement of parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2; but the optional use ofthese elements is of greater advantage in the operation of such an organization as is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7, where the segregation chamber Vis of relatively large diameter and the level of glass therein is always substantially below that of the parent body of hot molten material.

It will be observed that the vertically movable bell members B may be readily removed from the forehearth by detaching the clamp or cap connections, (I9 or 22a-24a) which secure them to the shaft members (I8 or |8a), and removing the flow or floor block s (6 or 6a) and that the cooperating valve blocks (A or 4a) can also be withdrawn, from below, whenever it becomes necessary to replace these parts. In doing this it is, of course, necessary to temporarily shut off the flow of glass to that portion of the forehearth chamber in which these parts are located; and this is done by lowering the skimmer and damper blocks |50 until they touch the inclined portion |5| of the forehearth floor. These damper members are preferably inclined forwardly, and are engaged at their side edges either with suitable grooves, or with projecting ledges, in/ or'on, the `forehearth walls; so that ythe forward movement of the glass from the chamber C, under the lower edge of the said members automatically presses them against the front of the roof opening through which 'they are inserted, and seals this joint against any escape of the gases of combustion therethrough. The opposite face joint-between the rear side of the dampermember and 75 l ber and the volume of the furnace space thereabove, the rear part of the forehearth is preferably made of considerably greater height (and may also be made of greater width) than the front portion, whether the bell and guard members (B-8-8a) are located.

These last described features, of the forehearth I and of the inclined apertured damper construction, are ancillary elements of my present improvements; and. cooperate with the guard tube (8 or 8a), with the intermittently rotating bell (B), and with the supplemental heating means (|45-|46-|41-|48)-when the latter are used-to prevent the hot gases of combustion from escaping from the forehearth, and to maintain uniformity of temperature, and homogeneity of physical condition, in the outflowing stream of glass, and in the mold charges formed therefrom.

Any suitable form of quick acting shear mechamism-which is conventionally indicated in Fig. 1 by the reciprocable shear blades J, J-may be employed to sever the pulsating stream of glass, as it issues from the delivery orifice F, into successive mold charges of the desired weight and shape;

this severance being preferably effected at the time when the vacuum is first applied, by opening communication between the control chamber (28 or 28a) and the bill chamber D, and is acting-to momentarily retard the rate of delivery, and to thereby produce a forced necking of the out- ,l

|62. 'Ihe passage |81 is also provided with an.

owing stream.

In Figs. 6, 9, 12 and 13 I have illustrated on'e particular form of shear mechanism, which I have designed for use in connection with my present improvements, and which is adapted to cut lthe stream without chilling the material at the plane of severance. This mechanism comprises a thin metal disc |55, which is constantly revolved at a high peripheral speed (e. g. 3000 to 4000 ft. per minute), by means of the train 'of shaft and gear elements |56-(|51|51)-|58(IBS-|59) and |60; thelast of which is connected to, and driven from a suitable motor (M), by a exible (double universal joint) coupling member |6|. The disc mandrel |56, the mitre gears |51-|51, and the .intermediate shaft |58, are all supported by anv elongated piston member |63 which is reciprocably mounted in a cylinder |63, and is normally held in retracted position therein by the tension springs |65-|65-| 65. The mitre gears |59|59 and the shaft |60 are supported in bearingmembers |66 and |61, that are carried by the rear head of the cylinder |63; and these elements of the driving train, are operatively coupled to the piston supported elements (|56-I51-I58) by a keyway and spline connection between the shaft |58 and the gear |59 that slides thereon.

' The cylinder IGS- and the parts associated Y. therewith-are all supported on an angle bracket |68, which is bolted against the metal floor plate of the forehearth extension a; and is also preferably secured (as by the bolts |10) to forwardly extending side bars |1|-|1|, which forma guide for the head of the reciprocable piston |62, (and prevent the latter from turningin its cylinder support), and which are cross connected to form a head member, |12, that is adapted to carry a removable guard tube |13, which is positioned be- 5 low, and in axial alignment with, the delivery orifice F. The member |12 is provided with an upwardly turned bracket extension |14, that may be bolted to the front walll of the forehearth framework (as shown in Fig. 6), and thus serve to 10 assist in holding the associated cylinder piston and guard tube assembly (|62- |63-I13 etc.) in proper relationship to the downwardly owing glass stream; and it is also bored out to receive a second piston element |15, which is provided with 15 a head |16 that is detachably secured to the piston 15, by the threaded piston rod |11. The rod |11 extends through the front wall of the piston chamber, and is engaged by a threaded sleeve |80, which serves to limit the inward movement of the 20 piston members |16-|16, (see Fig. 6), and which also serves to receive the thrust of the return spring |8|, that normally holds the said members in their outer retracted position.

The head |16 is provided with a flared semi- 25 cylindrical recess, which is shaped to conform to the contour of the adjacent portion of the outflowing stream of glass (at the moment when the said stream is contracted or necked by the termination of the super-atmospheric pressure 30 action, and the immediate subsequent vacuum application as previously described) and which is itself provided with a narrow slot |83 that is preierablyconnected to the chamber in front of the piston |15 by the restricted ducts Isl-|84 35 atmospheric. vent port |88, which is controlled by a pistonv valve |90, that is actuated by a tappet valve rod |9| and which is opened and closedat the ends of the forward and rearward movements of the piston member |62-by the respective engagement of the tappet arm |9|a with the adjustable collar |92 on the shaft |58, and of the end of the tappet rod 9| with the head of the piston |62.

The pipe |86 is connected, by the vertical pipe |94, with a valve box |95 (see Fig. 9), which contains a piston valve |96 that is moved1 in one direction by the cam |91 on the shaft 18a, and in the oppositedirection by a' return spring |98. This valve chamber -is connected to the fluid supply conduit 200, by the passage 20|; and when the piston |96 is held in its outermost position 60 (by the raised portion of the cam |91) the passage 20| is closed, the pipe connections |86-|9I etc. are opened to the atmospheric exhaust port 202, and the pistons |62 and |15 of the shear mechanism are held in their retracted position 65 by the springs |65 and IBI. The shaft of the pinion gear |30-which drives the cam shaft 18ais preferably operated from the same motor (M) as is used to rotate the shear disc' |55 (e. g. by the sprocket chain or belt connections K, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 12); but this is not essential, because the desired. synchronism of feeding and severing successive mold charges is not, in this case, dependent upon the maintenance of anyspecflc relationship between the rotative movements of the shear disc and of the timer cam shaft, but is determined by the relative settlngs of the three cams 15a, 11a and |91, on the latter shaft (18a), and by the cooperating adjustments of the super-atmospheric and sub-atmospheric control elements (a-9Ia etc.)

The operation of the last described mechanism is as follows: The cam |91 is preferably set so that it acts concurrently with'the cam 15a-in opening the passageway 20| and admitting pressure fluid to the shear cylinders at the instant that the valve a is lifted to apply vacuum to the glass in the segregation chamber D-and the pistons |15 and |62 are moved forward, so as to bring the slotted head |16 in juxtaposition to the necked in position of the stream, and to then pass the revolving duced and substantially stationary section` of th'e molten glass. The slotted block |16 is not designed or intended to take any part in the actual severance of the stream, but only to act as a guard, which will prevent, to some extent, the radial projection of minute particles of melted glass from the edge of the rapidly revolving disc, and which may also be used to assist in encompassing the stream in a protective envelope'of highly heated gas that is supplied from the slot and duct openings |83-I84 etc.

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 illustrate (somewhat diagrammatically) an alternative form of double disc shear which may be used in place of the one shown in Figs. 6, 1l, 12 and 13. This second exemplication of my revolving disc cutter comprises a pair of overlapping discs |55a|55b, which are symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of the vertical plane XI-m v(of Fig. 12); and which are adapted to be alternately moved, as a unit assemblage, from the full line position to the dotted line position of Fig. 14 to effect one severance and from the dotted linelposition back to the full line position, to effect the next severance. Each of these discs (|55a and |5511) is clamped against the upper face of a bevel pinion |51a, which is rotatably mounted on a fixed stud pin 205, that is secured to the end of a vcylindrical sleeve 206 (see Fig. 16); and Athese sleeves are slidably supported on shaft members |5811 and |5812, which are mounted in fixedend bearings 201-201 and 208-208, and are driven, in opposite directions, by the train of bevel and spur gears |5Sa-209-2I0 and 2l |2|| that is shown at the right of Fig. 14. The shafts, |58@ and |581), carry bevel pinions |51b, which are slidably, but non-rotatably, engaged therewith by spline and keyway connections, and are held in proper mesh relationship with the pinions |51a by the bracket extension 2|2--2|2 of the sleeve members 20S- 206. These members (206) are cross connected at their inner (right hand) ends by a cross head 2id, which is coupled, by the link 2|5, to a twin arm actuating lever 2|6, that is pivoted on a fixed support 211, and is flexibly connected, at an intermediate point in its length, to the movable piston rod head 2|8, of a double acting cylinder-piston assembly Zig- 220. The fixed cylinder member 2|9 may be conveniently supported on one of the side ports (e. g. |6a), of the forehearth frame; and is provided with two fluid supply connections 22| and 222 that lead to a suitable timer valve member, which is actuated by a cam on the shaft 18a, and which is adapted to alternately establish communication between a source of high pressure fluid and one of the cylinder connections, 22| or 222, and con-` disc |55 through this recurrently open the other connection (222 orl 22|) to the atmosphere. f

The driving gears 209 and 2I0 are provided with suitable friction clutches (225 and 226) rwhich may be concurrently actuated by means of a reciprocable frame 221, that is first moved in one direction, to engage the shaft with the gear 2|0 and disengage it from the gear 209, and then in the opposite direction, to effect the reverse connection. These alternatiely reversed movements are: Aeffected by a shift lever 228, which is fulcrumed, at 230, on a fixed support, and is engaged at its outer end, by two adjustable collars 23| and 232 that are carried by the piston rod yextension 234. The direction of rotation of the motor shaft is preferably such that when the parts are in the full line position of Fig. 14 the disc |55a is being revolved in a clockwise direction, and the disc |55b in a counter-clockwise direction.

The operation of this double disc shear will be readily understood from the preceding description. When the disc assembly is in the position last described, the severance of thestream of glass is effected by admitting compressed air (or other suitable fluid under pressure) to the left hand end of the cylinder 2|9 (through the connection 222) and the piston 220 is actuated to move the sliding frame 206-206-2I2-2I4 toward the end bearings 208; and the tworoppositely revolving discs, |55a and |551), are projected through the reduced neck portion of the accumulated mold charge and carried on to the dotted line position to the right of the stream. The last half of this movement is progressively retarded (e. g. by a gradual cushioning of a portion of the trapped air at the exhaust end of the cylinder 2 |9) so that the moving parts are brought to rest without shock or jar; and just before this movement is completed the collar 232 engages the shift lever 228 and reverses the clutch connections 22B- 225, etc., so that the discs |550, and |55b are then rotated in the opposite direction (as `indicated by the dotted line arrows of Fig. 14) The next severance is effected by admitting fluid pressure'to the right hand end of the cylinder 2|0 (through the pipe connection 22|) and moving the parts back to the first described position; thereby bringing the collar 23| into engagement with the shift lever 228, and again reversing the direction of rotation of the cutting discs |55a, and |55b.

In the use of this double disc shear the guard block |16 is dispensed with, but the lower guard tube |13a may be moved up until its upper end is in close juxtaposition to the plane of movement of the lower disc element |55b. The two cutting discs may be revolved in either direction with respect to the line of their joint transverse movement; but I prefer to operate them in the manner above described, so that the rotary-lmotion of the edge of each disc is opposed to the linear motion of passage through the stream. Under these conditions of operation any lateral thrust of the two discs on the plastic material, as they move against it, is relieved by the reverse backward movement of the rotating edges with respect thereto,\which tends to draw the glass toward the cutting edges instead of pushing it away from them.

I have, referred, in the above description, to a cutting action of the revolving disc elements, but it will be understood that this action is quite different from that of an ordinary reciprocating shear blade, which severs the material by the `while the revolving relative' approach movement of two sharpened edges that engage the soft material on opposite sides, and effect the severance of the stream, in part by a pinching, and in part by a true shearing action. The rapidly revolving disc, or discs, act, on the contrary, like a saw; and the plain (unserrated) edges effect the desired severance of the glass in very much the same manner as similar smooth edge discs act to cut either hot or cold bars of metal; i. e., by the frictional generation of suiiicient heat to actually melt away the metal in advance of the line of engagement. Such an operation exerts very little lateral pressure-and no pinching or squeezing action-on the material; and serves to heat, rather than to chill, the glass at the plane of severance, thus avoiding the smear" and the shear marks which are frequently produced by the use of ordinary reciprocating shear blades.

Either the single disc or the double disc form of my improved severing mechanism is of particular advantage when the stream of glass is cut close to the lower end of the delivery orifice. This part of the stream is surrounded, for a considerable distance below its point of emergence, with a thin sheath or envelope S, of partially congealed and stiffened glass, which offers considerable resistance to the penetration of the ordinary cold shear blade, and correspondingly increases the dilculty of using such a form of severing element in this such diiiiculty presents high speed disc cutter; is, on the contrary, an advantage in such use, because it .serves to resist and prevent any lateral displacement or distortion of the stream disc is passing through it. I, therefore, preferably so adjust the vertical position ofthe severing mechanism, with respect to the bottom of the forehearth, that the plane of movement of the disc elements (I 55 or I 55a and |55b) intersects, or lies within, this downwardly extending surface zone of stiffer and more viscous material. This adjustment of the shear height or plane of severance-which is effected by moving the cylinder assembly up or` down on its forehearth frame supports (at |68, |14 etc.)- also enables me to utilize the skin" effect, or surface tension eiect of the cooler surface layer in temporarily, and controllably, restraining or arresting the stream movement of the glass, in the manner explained in my prior Patents Nos. 1,334,725 (line 68 et seq. pp. 2 and 3) and 1,375,336 (see lines 19 to '71 p. 3); and thereby assist the initial effect of the vacuum application in preventing any sensible downward flow of the molten material at ,the time of severance.

Thus it is apparent that during the operation of forming separate mold charges of molten glass I effect a severance of each successive charge by the localized application of mechanically generated heat to the issuing stream, and in this way, in effect, melt off the successive mold charges, or at least accomplish the severance under such conditions of localized heatapplication as to substantially, if .not entirely, eliminate the possibility of scarring either the severed charge or the remaining stub. It will also be apparent that this may be accomplished without actually checking the stream flow by causing the severing disc or discs to move downwardly with the stream and at a rate sufficient to prevent a tendency of the glass to pile up on the disc or discs. In either case the discs are rotated at such a. peripheral speed and are moved across zone of action. But no itself in the use of the and the stiifened skin the stream at such a rate as to substantially offset the tendency of the partially severed charge to pull awayfrom the stub prior to complete severance and .thus detrimentally affect the shape of thecharge.

utilizethe characteristic features of my present improvements, in various other forms of apparatus that may differ in detail fromv the illustrative exemplications which have been herein described; andit will therefore, be understood that my invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the use of these specic exemplary embodiments; but that, within the scope of the accompanying claims, various changes may be made in the structural form, arrangement, and relationship of the operative parts without departing from the principles of the invention, and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. A glass feeder comprising, a receptacle for molten glass having an orifice formed therein below the level of the glass contained therein, a bell projecting into the glass within said receptacle and above said orifice, a chamber, means for establishing a predetermined fluid pressure within said chamber, means for` closing said chamber after such predetermined pressure is established therein, and means for establishing communication between said chamber and the interior of the bell while maintaining said chamber closed except for communication with said bell.

2. A glass feeder comprising, molten glass having an orifice bottom thereof, a bell projecting into the glass within said receptacle and above said orifice. a chamber, a source `of fluid pressure,'means for alternately connecting said chamber to said fluid pressure source and the interior of said bell to alternately establish a predetermined pressure within said chamber and to equalize the pressures in the chamber and the interior of the bell.

3. A glass feeder comprising, a receptacle foi molten glass having an orifice formed therein below the level of the glass contained. therein, a bell extending into the glass above said orifice, a chamber, means for evacuating said chamber. means for closing communication between said chamber and said evacuating means, and means for establishing communication between said chamber and the interior of said bell to equalize the fluid pressures in the chamber and the interior of said bell while said closing means cona receptacle for formed in the tinues to close off communication between said.

chamber and said evacuating means.

4. A glass feeder comprising, a receptacle for molten glass having an orifice formed therein below the normal level of the glass contained therein, a bell projecting into the glass within said receptacle and above said orice, a chamber, means for adjusting the volumetric capacity of said chamber, means for establishing a predetermined fiuid pressure within said chamber. means for closing said chamber after said predetermined pressure is established therein, and means for. establishing communication between said chamber and the interior of said bell while maintaining said chamber closed except for communication with said bell.

5. A glass feeder comprising, a receptacle for molten glass having an orifice formed in the bottom thereof, a bell projecting into the glass above bell to draw glass from said receptacle into the interior oi' the bell and to move said bell toward said orifice while said closing means continues to close off communication between said chamber and said evacuating means.

6. A 'glass feeder comprising, a receptacle for molten glass having an orifice below the normal level of the glass contained therein, a bell projecting into the glass above said orifice and movable toward and from the orifice in response to variations in fluid pressure within said bell, means for delivering super-atmospheric pressure to the interior of the bell to move said bell away from said orifice and to expel glass through said orifice, and means for reducing the fluid pressure within said bell below atmospheric pressure to move said bell toward said orifice and to drawglass from said receptacle into said bell.

'1. A feeder for molten glass, comprising a receptacle for molten glass having an orifice formed therein below the normal level of the glass contained therein, a bell projecting downwardly into the glass within said receptacle and located above said orifice and movable toward and away from said orifice in response to the introduction of sub and super-atmospheric pressures into the interior thereof, means for subjecting the interior of said bell to sub-atmospheric pressure, means for subjecting the interior of the bell to superatmospheric pressure, and means for limiting the movements of said bell in response to such pressures.

8. A feeder for molten glass, comprising a receptacle for molten glass having an orifice formed ln the bottom thereof, a bell aligned with, and projecting downwardly into the glass above said orifice, means for substantially counterbalancing the weight of said bell so that it is movable in response to variations of pressure introduced into the interior thereof, and means for alternately subjecting the interior of said bell to sub and super-atmospheric pressure.

9. A feeder for molten glass, comprising a receptacle for molten glass having an orifice in the bottom thereof, a bell projecting into the glass above said orifice and in alignment therewith, means for substantially counterbalancing said bell so that it is movable toward and away from said orice in response to pressure variations within the interior thereof, and means ior creatlng pressure variations within said bell to effect such movement thereof.

10. A feeder for molten glass, comprising a receptacle for molten glass having an orifice formed in a wall thereof, a bell aligned with said orifice and projecting downwardly into the glass above said orifice and movable toward and from the orifice in response to variations of pressure within the interior thereof, means for subjecting the interior of the bell to subatmospheric pressure to move said bell toward said orifice and to accumulate glass from said receptacle within said bell, means for subjecting the interior of said bell to super-atmospheric pressure to move said bell away from said orifice and to expel glass therefrom, and means cooperating with said bell for substantially shutting on communication between the interior of said bell and the main body of glass within the receptacle when said bell moves ln response to super-atmospheric pressure applied therein.

11. A feeder for molten glass, comprising a receptacle for molten glass having an orifice formed 5 therein, a bell aligned with said orifice projecting into the glass within said receptacle and movable toward and away from said orifice, and means cooperating with said bell for substantially shutting off communication between the interior l thereof and the main body of -glass within said receptacle when said bell is moved away from said orifice.

12. A feeder for molten glass, comprising a receptacle for molten glass having an orifice formed l in the bottom thereof, an upwardly projecting sleeve surrounding said orifice and terminating below the level of the glass within the receptacle and having a reentrant flange adjacent the-top thereof, and a movable bell projecting downwarcly into the confines of said sleeve and having a flared edge cooperating with said reentrant flange.

13. A method cf forming separate mold charges of molten glass from a body of such gla'ss, which 25. consists in creating a flow from such body through a continuously open orifice submerged by the glass of such body, periodically accumulating glass from said. body above said orifice by segregating a portion of the surface of said body and by placing such segregated portion of such surface in communication with a previously evacuated and otherwise sealed chamber, severing the flow from said orifice and then subjecting the accumulated glass above the orifice to an expelling force to augment the flow through said orifice.

14. A method of feeding molten glass through an orifice submerged by a body of such material, which consists in accumulating a mass of glass from said body and above said orifice by subjecting a portion of the glass of said body to subatmospheric fluid pressure and by progressively increasing such fluid pressure until a condition of hydro-dynamic equilibrium is obtained, and then subjecting the accumulated mass to an expelling force to force molten glass through said orifice.

l5. A method of operating a feeder having a. continuously open glass submerged flow orifice and a bell movable toward and away from said orifice for controlling the flow of glass through said orifice, which consists in substantially balancing said bell so that it is capable of moving in response to variations in pressure within the interior thereof, and then in alternately subjecting the interior of the bell to relatively high and relatively low fluid pressures to move said bell away from and then toward said orifice.

16. A method of operating a feeder having a continuously open, glass submerged, flow orifice and a bell movable toward and away from said orifice for controlling the flow of glass therethrough, which consists in substantially balancing said bell so that it is capable of moving in response to variations in pressure within the interior thereof, alternately subjecting the interior of the bell to relatively high and relatively low fluid pressures, and rotating the bell as it assumes a definite position in its movement in response to such variations in pressure. f

17. A glass feeder comprising a receptacle for 7,0 molten glass having a well located therein and provided with a continuously open orifice in the bottom thereof, a vertically movable bell aligned with said well, projecting downwardly through the glass -contained in said receptacle and exi5 tending into said Well, means carried in part by said bell and in part by the well enclosure for substantially shutting oi communication between the interior of the well and the portion of said receptacle external thereto when said bell is in its uppermost position, means for controlling the movements of said bell toward and away from the orifice, and a glass severing mechanism located below said receptacle and adjacent to such orifice.

18. A glass feeder comprising a receptacle for molten glass having a well located'therein and provided with a continuously open orice in the bottom thereof, a bell aligned with said well, projecting downwardly through the glass contained in said receptacle and extending into said well and movable toward and away from said orice, means carried in part by said bell and in part by the well enclosure for substantially shutting off communication between the interior of the well and the portion of said receptacle external thereto when said bell occupies its furthermost position from said orifice, means for controlling the movements of said bell toward and away from said orifice, means for rotating said bell as it approaches said orifice and a severing mechanism located below said receptacle and adjacent said orifice.

19. A glass feeder comprising a receptacle for molten glass having an apertured well in the bottom thereof, a reciprocable bell projecting downwardly into said well and having an outwardly ared lower end adapted to cooperate with an internally projecting shoulder on saidwell enclosure to restrict thejopening of said well when said bell is in its uppermost position, means for substantially counterbalancing said bell, means for introducing a relatively low fluid pressure into said bell to accumulate a quantity of glass therein and to move said bell toward said orifice, means for introducing a relatively high uid pressure into said bell to move said bell away from said orifice and bring the ared end thereof into cooperating engagement with said projecting shoulder and to expel molten glass from said well and through the apertured bottom thereof, and means operating in timed relation with the move# ments of said bell for severing the flow of glass issuing through the aperture of said well.

20. A glass feeder comprising a receptacle for molten glass having a submerged, open bottom well in the bottom thereof, a vertically reciprocable bell projecting downwardly into said well and having an outwardly projecting lower end adapted to cooperate with a reentrant ange formed on the well enclosure adjacent the upper end thereof to restrict thc mouth of the well when said bell is in its raised position, means for substantially counter balancing said bell. means for introducing sub-atmospheric pressure into the interior of said bell to accumulate glass therein and to move said bell toward the open bottom of said well, means for introducing super-atmospheric pressure into the interior of the bell to expel glass therefrom and through the open bottom of said well and to move the lower end of the bell into cooperative relation with said reentrant flange, means for rotating said bell when in its lowermost position and means below said receptacle and adjacent the open bottom of said well for severing the flow of molten glass issuing from said well in timed relation with the movements of said bell.

FRANK L. O. WADSWORTH. 

